'He's just that talented': Stories from Walker Buehler's rise as Dodgers ace
PHOENIX — Karen Walker had never heard anyone use the word "perennial" in a speech before.
That's the running joke, anyway, between Walker Buehler's mom and the coach who helped teach him how to pitch.
It traces back to Buehler's senior year at Henry Clay High in Lexington, Ky., during a postseason banquet for the baseball team. Walker was in the crowd when Ben Shaffar, the squad's pitching coach and Buehler's mentor, stood up in front of the room to say a few words about her son.
By then, Buehler's star was already on the rise. He was an all-state pitcher. He was on his way to playing at Vanderbilt University. And it was clear a professional career was in his future.
Shaffar, however, sensed even more. He recognized the young right-hander's rare combination of qualities, from his elastic frame to his advanced pitching acumen to his persistent internal drive. A former minor leaguer himself, Shaffar saw parallels between Buehler and some of the eventual big league stars he once played alongside.
So, after Buehler was honored with one team award after the next, Shaffar stood up and made a prediction.
"Everybody is looking
